The cost of living in Hawaii is as steep as the money it takes to run it. This is according to recent reports and a statement made by the Department of human services. The decision to cut vital welfare programs has received a mixed reaction among citizens and community leaders alike.

Cutting benefits to citizens whom aren’t encouraged to find work is one thing. Reducing benefits to what looks like on paper a program that encourages working is another.

In The News

Hawaii until recently has been the nation’s biggest spender in welfare benefits.
Budget cuts are forcing the state to eliminate programs to welfare recipients.
Temporary assistance to needy families (TANF) and temporary assistance to other needy family (TAONF) are the programs on the chopping block.

What is TANF and TAONF?

TANF and TAONF are intended to provide assistance for those who can’t work and provide incentives for those whom are able to work to find work. These programs offer money to adults and children for a period of 5 years once in a lifetime. TANF & TAONF are unique in the fact that they encourage people to rely on themselves to sustain and makes it pay to work. This is accomplished by providing child care support, enforcing penalties, and tapering off benefits when work is found. This is opposite of most programs that cut off benefits completely.

Reduced Benefits

Welfare benefits are being reduced due to state mandated budget cuts. Hawaii spends $5.4 million on programs designed to aid recipients in finding work. According to Hawaii’s Department of human services these programs will be terminated at the end of this month.

Historical Data

Eligibly for 539 families expired in late 2001, in 2003 their were over 1200 cases that reached the five year limit. By year 2004 852 cases expired and 708 in the year 2005.